I usually skip lunch and my coworkers would go out to have lunch together. My manager just asked me to come join them for lunch, since I have told them no for so many times. She said I should meet more people and insisted me to join them. I hate that because the dinner with my family is the highlight of my day and now she is taking that away. What should I do?
You can join them for lunch but not eat. You can explain to them why, if you choose. It might be a good ice breaker and make it less awkward.
You can allow yourself to eat something for lunch, that one day. I do understand not wanting to, I can be quite anal and stubborn, but these things do come up in life. It won’t be the last time that your eating schedule will be disrupted, for one reason or another.
She is not taking away dinner with your family. Framing it like that in your mind is making you resentful, she is not doing this for spite. You might enjoy it, whether you eat or not.
I honestly hate doing this at work too, my lunch break is my time to get away and unwind, I don’t want to be antisocial but I just don’t like going to lunch with other people. But anyways, if it’s in the interest of saving face for your job then suck it up and go a couple times, you don’t have to eat, if they ask why then just say you’re on a weird eating schedule, maybe will be a conversation starter with others. You can still get away from work a little and socialize, no one is shoving food down your face.
Also alot of people want to do this out of really good intentions, I’m sure if you just explain she will understand.
>. I hate that because the dinner with my family is the highlight of my day and now she is taking that away
Sheesh reddit can be over dramatic.
Show up, say you aren’t hungry and order a coffee/tea
If pressed say you ate earlier. Change topic.
I suppose you’re not being forced to eat, but to watch others eat in front of you. Which can be tough because the sight/smell of food can be triggering for someone. Can you get out of it for “religious reasons?” Why are you being forced to socialize with co-workers? What type of job is this? I’m annoyed for you. Maybe there’s a “doctor’s note” that can be printed out from the internet that excludes you from being subjected to this unnecessary inclusion.